Promoter: Algieri to beat Pacquiao with jab

MANILA, Philippines – Chris Algieri’s promoter says his ward will defeat Manny Pacquiao using the most basic punch in boxing: the jab.

Joe DeGuardia, who promotes Algieri, is confident that the undefeated American will emerge victorious in his fight with Pacquiao on Nov. 23 in Macau.

Algieri, now the WBO light welterweight champion, will enter the bout as a huge underdog against Pacquiao, pretty much the same situation he was in prior to his career-defining win over Ruslan Provodnikov last month.

DeGuardia didn’t mind the odds then, and still won’t care about Algieri’s underdog status now.

“I took the Provodnikov fight for one reason and one reason alone – I knew that Chris stacked up pretty well against him and I also knew about the opportunity it provided. Well now for this particular fight [against Pacquiao], sure it pays good money. But the reality is I'm also taking this fight because of the opportunity it provides, and I like the way he stacks up against Manny,” the promoter explained in a boxingscene.com report by Bill Emes.

Algieri (20-0, 8 with KOs) himself earlier vowed victory, saying he will win “100 percent” in the fight in which he’ll earn a career-high $1.5 million purse.

And so does DeGuardia.

“It's a great opportunity to for him. I feel comfortable putting him in the fight and I think he's going to win,” he continued.

DeGuardia thinks Algieri’s jab will spell the difference against Pacquiao.

“A jab controls everything. A jab can equalize speed. A jab can equalize power. A jab is a very difficult tool and Chris has it. And sure that is probably the most vital aspect of the fight – the jab,” he ended.